[ at first, he inevitably thinks that he's somehow botched this again; made another verbal misstep that could have just as easily made her feel that much more unsettled in a situation like this. when she finally does speak, he's glad to see that isn't the case at all. there's something about how contemplative she looked before speaking that had somehow resonated with him? maybe, it's just the general vibe. whatever the feeling is, he finds himself smiling, if just a bit. ]

Guess I need to thank him, after all. [ not that he wasn't always grateful to his teachers. but, in the same breath, he also remembers all the bones he felt breaking under his fists and then... isn't sure if he should feel this way so quickly. still, he seems to metaphorically shrug them off all the same. ] But, it sounds like your father is pretty wise himself. [ maybe, also a teacher in some ways? he'd like to think they have something in common from that alone.

which is kind of nice, really... to feel like you have an ally right out the floodgates. ]

If you're still feeling up to it... [ he reaches a hand out. ]